Quincy Public Schools proposes lowering unexcused-absence threshold, shifts consequence from grades to credits

Quincy Public Schools officials presented proposed revisions to the district attendance and high-school grading policies at the May 7 policy subcommittee meeting, recommending a drop in the unexcused-absence threshold from seven to four per marking period and a move from grade reductions to credit reductions as the principal academic consequence.

The draft policy would define students as expected to be “in class 100% of the time” and say that students with “4 or more absences not school approved from class or school during a marking period shall receive a reduction of 1.25 credits for each class missed,” according to the materials presented by district staff. The presenters also recommended tracking yearly totals in addition to quarter totals, promoting credit-recovery options, and standardizing how course-level absences, tardies and dismissals are counted.

The changes matter because state chronic-absenteeism rules identify chronic absence at roughly 10% of the school year (about 18 days), and the committee’s presenters argued the current policy allows students to be chronically absent without academic consequences. Dr. Perkins, the team lead on the policy review, said the proposed language was drafted by a cross-functional team that included educators and union representatives and was intended to both reduce chronic absenteeism and “minimize the amount of failing grades for those students who earn higher scores.”

In their presentation, the committee heard that the current numeric grading system at the high school level is unique in the region — Quincy’s minimum passing mark is a 63 — and that changing to letter grades would align the district with most Massachusetts districts and colleges. The proposal would convert high-school numeric grades to letter grades (A+ through F) and move the failure threshold so an F corresponds to below 60.

Committee members pressed presenters on implementation details. Member Gail (QEA) and several Committee members sought clarity about how building-level staff would implement consistent procedures — for example, when nurses or counselors would follow up and whether principals would have discretion. Dr. Perkins and Mr. Marani said they would draft districtwide procedures to make school-level practices consistent, and noted principal discretion and an appeal process would remain for extenuating circumstances. The presenters also proposed phasing in credit deductions so seniors would not lose credits during the immediate transition year; the first year of credit deductions would begin with the class of 2027 (rising juniors).

Multiple committee members urged clear family outreach. “Parents need to understand the credit piece and how the credits really impact their students in graduation,” said a committee member, noting that students and families commonly monitor numeric grades rather than credits and that the district will need a coordinated communications plan, web pages and staff outreach.

Presenters described several operational elements: (1) reduction in threshold to 4 unexcused absences per marking period; (2) a 1.25-credit reduction per course for the triggered class; (3) annual cumulative review and an attendance plan when a student exceeds a district-specified total (draft language used 15 total credits as a trigger for required meetings); (4) credit-recovery options including summer school, evening high school and school-approved alternatives; and (5) counting repeated partial-day dismissals and repeated tardies as course-level absences. They emphasized that credit reductions would not require course repetition nor affect GPA, but students might need to pass additional courses to meet graduation-credit requirements.

Next steps the presenters requested included additional subcommittee feedback, revision of draft language and placement of the revised policies on the next meeting agenda for the required read-and-wait period before a final vote. No formal policy vote was taken at this meeting.

Committee members and staff said they will prepare: a) revised policy text reflecting input from tonight’s discussion; b) a separate procedures document for consistent school-level implementation; and c) family- and staff-facing communications and a web page to explain how excused/unexcused absences, medical notes, credit reductions and appeal procedures will operate.

The subcommittee scheduled further review and expects a formal vote after the draft policy completes the required public-meeting sequence.